You don’t want to waste money when traveling. Actually, you want to work hard to ensure that you spend it wisely. That’s because you probably worked hard and sacrificed to save money for travel. Therefore, you want to spend every cent on life-changing experiences. But, you might be throwing your money away when traveling without knowing it. According a gentlemen named Mr. Sims I met on a retreat, and gives his gratefulness for owning his appliance repair business which allows him the travel freedom he enjoys so much, that he always pre-plans his expenses and tries to stay at bed and breakfast spots vs a fancy high luxury hotel. He went on to explain even more tips which i share below.

Here are some of the ways you can waste money when traveling:

Incurring Unnecessary Bank Fees

You will waste a lot of money on foreign transactions and ATM fees if you are not careful. To avoid this, find out if your travel destination has banks that do not charge overseas withdrawal fees. Open an account with a bank that won’t charge you fees on foreign transactions. This will enable you to save money and spend it on enhancing your travel experience.

Scams

Many travelers waste money when traveling because they are simple victims of scams. Therefore, take time to learn and prepare yourself properly. You will lower the risk of being scammed when you know how scammers approach travelers. What’s more, be cautious with locals that approach you without a reason. Additionally, trust your intuition. If you suspect that something is not right, be attentive about it or even walk away.

Fake Souvenirs

Many travelers discover that they spent money on fake souvenirs on arriving at their homes. To avoid this, take time to conduct some research before you travel. Get recommendations from retailers and don’t trust random recommendations. Be careful and buy something as souvenir when you have researched about it.

To avoid wasting money when you travel, you need to conduct some research. Have a guidebook and follow it. Also read online resources like reliable travel blogs. If in doubt about something, ask people that have traveled to your destination before you make a decision.

Whether you are a seasoned traveler or you have just decided to see the world more, taking the first international trip is a real thrill. Regardless of how much you have traveled in your country, thinking about somewhere different, new and foreign is exciting. However, it can also be confusing and scaring. That’s because it requires additional logistics. Nevertheless, you can overcome your fears, worries, and confusion by following these tips.

Decide Where You Want to Go

If unsure of your first international travel destination, this will be a major hurdle for your first international trip. You may have a long list of international destinations that you may want to visit. This can make choosing your first destination a real challenge. Nevertheless, there are things that you should ask yourself to make a more informed choice.

For instance:

Do you want to visit a nearby country or a destination that is far away from your home country?

Are you familiar with the language that is spoken in your destination country?

Are you comfortable with the idea of traveling to a place where you can’t communicate with the native language?

What do you find exciting in your chosen international travel destination?

These are some of the questions that should guide you in choosing your first international travel destination. It’s also important that you consider the security status in your travel destination.

Plan Your First International Trip

Once you’ve decide on your destination, plan your first foreign trip.

Here are important things that you should consider:

What time do you have to spend in a foreign destination?

Which places do you want to visit in your travel destination?

Will you stay in a hotel, hostel, campground, or vacation rental?

What is your budget?

How do you intend to tour the country?

It’s also important that you decide whether you will engage a travel agent, go solo, or engage the company of your friends.

Save Money

International trips require flying. However, you have options like trains, buses, taxis, and road trips to consider once you arrive at your destination. It’s therefore important that you save enough money to make your first trip abroad seamless and enjoyable.

Book Early

When traveling abroad, book about a month early to get a great deal. There are many sites and tools that you can use to find the best deals for travelers. Use them to get cheap flights alerts to snag an awesome deal. Also check out hotel deals at your international travel destination and book in advance.

Handle the Paperwork

Make sure that you have a passport. In some countries like in the U.S, the process of applying for a passport can take 8 weeks. Therefore, apply the moment you decide to go on your first foreign trip.

These are just some of the tips that will make your first international travel a seamless experience. Follow them carefully and you will have an unforgettable trip abroad.

Best hostels are not easy to find. Hostels are largely about the people that stay in them than the buildings. You can stay in a dump and still have fun if you meet amazing people there. Some hostels are beautiful but the people there tend to be boring.

Nevertheless, staying in a hostel where the needs of travelers are taken care of is very important. It enhances the overall experience of travelers. Here are tips to help you pick the best hostel when traveling.

Price

The price of a hostel is a major factor that most travelers consider. However, cheaper hostels are not always the best. Cheap hostels tend to be unclean with uncomfortable beds. Pillows are thin and showers are dirty. It’s therefore reasonable to pay an extra coin if it will make your overall experience better.

Get Breakfast

In most cases, breakfast is made of eggs, toast and coffee. It is usually served at 7 am. An ideal hostel serves a decent breakfast. It is also served when travelers wake up. Good breakfast is very important because it enables you to load up on quality snacks for the day. This enables you to keep food budget down.

Late Checkout

The best hostel won’t force you to check out before 10am. Check out times for ideal hostels are 10 am to 11 am. Check out time is crucial because enough sleep is important for travelers. The best hostels know this and they allow late checkout times to ensure that travelers relax in a chiller environment longer.

Quality Amenities

Pick hostels that feature quality amenities. These include push-button showers, lockers, free internet, common area, and a bar.

A hostel shouldn’t have all these. However, it should feature most of them. Follow this guide to pick a hostel that you will be comfortable and happy to stay in when you travel. Check out one of my favorite website to book travel by clicking here.

Barbados is a Caribbean archipelago known for its perfect tropical climate year round. That explains why visitors from around the world flock this destination every year. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly destination or planning for a romantic getaway, this tropical destination has got you covered. Not only will you find some of world’s best beaches here but get to enjoy the sunshine and explore the breathtaking scenery here.

There really is so much you can explore and do on this beautiful island. No one should, therefore, try fooling you around that all you’ll be doing is lounging by the pool. That aside, an important decision you’ll have to make is when to come here so you can explore the sun, sea, sand, and the laid-back atmosphere on this Caribbean Island. It all depends on your interests and preferences.

Weather

The first factor to carefully consider is the weather on this tropical island. This Caribbean archipelago experiences a generally warm climate, with the dry season running between January and June. Those who want to vacation in the sun often visit during this time. The summer months are usually characterized by tropical rain showers and sunny days. Though June to November is the off-peak season in Barbados, you can still have a good time. The rains experienced often come in short showers but it come get unbearably hot.

The cooler season begins in December and runs to mid-April. Expect a less humid climate at this time of the year. If you don’t have a problem with huge crowds and long waits, this would be the best time to travel as it’s the high season. Weather-wise, mid-December to mid-April is the most ideal time to visit Barbados. It’s, however, important to note that there’s usually very little variations in temperatures throughout the year, despite changes in seasons.

Off-Peak Travel

Travelers who want to enjoy the cheapest rates should consider visiting during the off-peak season when other travelers are not visiting. The off-peak season runs from June and extends to November. At this time, the weather isn’t very much pleasant and very few visitors are coming. It’s usually the stormy season and travelers can find the cheapest flights and lowest hotel rates. Vacationing families flock this Caribbean archipelago during the school holidays which is why you should avoid traveling during the summer months. You might check out the calendar of events and schedule your trip to coincide with at least one or two so you can have an addition to your experience here.